Alvin Ailey to Offer 'Ticket to Dance' Program in Conjunction with Lincoln Center Season

The world renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Lincoln Center from June 8 - 19, and New Yorkers have a unique opportunity to join in the dance. The Ailey Extension announces the return of "Ticket to Dance," which allows audience members to try their first class FREE with a performance ticket (returning students receive a free class with the purchase of a 10-class card).

The Ailey Extension honors Mr. Ailey's belief that "dance came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people," by offering over 80 classes a week in 25 different dance and fitness techniques for students of all levels and backgrounds. Many of these techniques will be center stage during the Company's Lincoln Center season: Afro-Cuban movement comes to life in Ronald K. Brown's Open Door; hip-hop is featured in Rennie Harris' Exodus; and Horton is the foundation of many Ailey classics, including his must-see masterpiece, Revelations.

Ailey's extraordinary dancers will inspire throughout this season of diverse repertory. World premieres include Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti's Deep, set to the soulful music of twin indie sensations Ibeyi, and MacArthur "Genius" Kyle Abraham's Untitled America: Second Movement, the second installment of a three-part suite about the impact of incarceration on African-American families. The dancers will also perform in new productions of Vespers, Ulysses Dove's breathtaking ballet for six women, and The Hunt, Robert Battle's thrilling work for six men. These works are part of over a dozen works featured on five different programs: the newest Company repertory in 21st Century Voices, a trio of works by Dance Trailblazers, All Ailey classics by the Company's founder, works that arose from Musical Inspirations, and a quartet of dances that share Bold Visions.

These breathtaking performances will motivate audiences to head straight from the theater to the Ailey Studios at the Joan Weill Center for Dance - New York's largest center for dance, and home to the incomparable Ailey dancers. Weekly classes start at the Absolute Beginner level, and include Zumba, Masala Bhangra, Power Hour Yoga, Kukuwa African Dance Workout, Ailey Barre, West African dance with live drumming, and more. This summer, the Ailey Extension also welcomes GingaFlex, a brand new cardio technique founded by capoeira instructor Tiba Vieira. Based on the Brazilian dance/martial art form, GingaFlex is a challenging and mindful full-body workout that increases core strength, flexibility, and balance (date and time TBD).

Let Ailey's powerful performances move you to dance this season! Visit alvinailey.org for more information on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Lincoln Center season. For the complete class schedule, visit aileyextension.com.

Photo by Paul Kolnik